Napoli secured their third consecutive victory, defeating Cagliari in a challenging away fixture. The win propels the Azzurri to the top of the Serie A table, pending the result of Monza-Inter. After the match, Napoli’s head coach Antonio Conte shared his thoughts on the team’s performance and recent progress.
Conte acknowledged the difficulty of playing at Cagliari, noting that his team started well but faced challenges when the match was interrupted due to flares being thrown. “Cagliari is a very difficult ground. We started very well, then the stop due to the flares helped them because it broke our rhythm, and that’s why they put us in difficulty,” Conte explained.
The coach emphasized the need for continuous improvement across all aspects of the game, stating, “We need to continue growing in all areas and be attentive and skilled. The Serie A championship requires this.”
Conte praised Romelu Lukaku’s performance, a player he had strongly desired since his time at Inter. “Romelu is an atypical player who, in addition to being physically strong, is strong in progression. His condition is not yet optimal, but he becomes fundamental for us,” Conte said. He also expressed hope for Kvaratskhelia to score many goals and provide important assists and plays.
Reflecting on the team’s transformation, Conte remarked, “This is a team that in recent years did not like to get its hands dirty much. The switch after what happened last year is precisely in this.” He noted a significant change in the team’s mentality and work ethic since he addressed certain issues following their first match of the season.
Conte concluded by highlighting the team’s growth and the intensive work done in recent months. “At this moment, all teams are in a settling phase, and we are among those. However, we have worked hard in these months, and it shows,” he said, expressing optimism about Napoli’s trajectory in the current Serie A campaign.
